Bruins quickly capitalize on trade with Blackhawks.

The Boston Bruins have wasted little time in capitalizing on the deal they struck with the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, a deal in which the Bruins acquired former first round draft pick Victor Soderstrom.

On Saturday, the Bruins announced that they had come to terms with Soderstrom on a new deal, one that ends up being a very low risk option for the Bruins. Soderstrom has signed a one year, two way, contract that will carry an average annual value and salary cap hit of just $775,000 at the National Hockey League level.

Soderstrom was once a highly touted prospect going 11th overall at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft but failed to develop into an NHL regular during his time in North America. In Soderstrom's defense, he was drafted by an often dysfunctional Arizona Coyotes organization and there's no telling how that may have influenced his development.

In total Soderstrom has played 53 games at the NHL level that include 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 career points, but he chose to spend last season in his home country of Sweden. Soderstrom was unable to come to terms on a deal with the Utah Hockey Club in the summer of 2024 and took a big risk by spending a season with Brynas IF Gavle in the Swedish Hockey League.

The 24 year old defenseman had a good showing for himself in Sweden however with 9 goals and 28 assists for 37 points in just 49 games, and it seems that performance may have caused him to land on the Bruins radar this year.

The Bruins traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to their division rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the trade deadline this year, and left an opening on the right side of their blue line in the process. While Soderstrom still has to prove himself at the NHL level, he could very well provide the Bruins with valuable depth at a position at which they suddenly find themselves in need.